Category Archives: Great is Thy Faithfulness

A Month Of Gratitude??? #2. Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 12

03 Sunday Nov 2019

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Gratitude, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Resurrection, Thankful, Thanksgiving, That They May Know, Victory IN Jesus!, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 12.   A Month Of Gratitude??? #2

 

As we continue in our consideration of gratitude, I’d like to thank God for being GOD!  I thank God for loving us first and sending Jesus to pay the debt for my sin and yours!

“Herein is love,

not that we loved God,

but that he loved us,

and sent his Son

to be the propitiation for our sins…

… 18 There is no fear in love;

but perfect love

casteth out fear:

because fear hath torment.

He that feareth

is not made perfect in love.

19 We love him,

because he first loved us.”   1 John 4:10 & 18-19

Oh, how amazing it is to me that “he first loved us”!  We who are sinners, have received the abundant grace and mercy of God, beyond measure!  And Paul painted such an amazing picture of it.

“Therefore being justified by faith,

 we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access

by faith

into this grace

wherein we stand,

and rejoice

in hope

of the glory of God.

3 And not only so,

but we glory in tribulations also:

knowing that tribulation

worketh patience;

4 And patience,

experience;

and experience,

hope:

5 And hope

maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God is shed abroad

in our hearts

by the Holy Ghost

which is given unto us.

6 For when we were yet without strength,

in due time

Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man

will one die:

yet peradventure for a good man

some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love

toward us,

in that, while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.  

9 Much more then,

being now justified

by his blood,

we shall be saved

from wrath through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies,

we were reconciled to God

by the death of his Son,

much more,

being reconciled,

we shall be saved by his life.

11 And not only so,

but we also joy in God

through our Lord Jesus Christ,

by whom we have now received

the atonement.”  Romans 5:1-11

Let those amazing words sink in!  While we were “yet sinners, Christ died for us”—what an amazing gift to all who will believe “in Him” and receive His saving “grace”!  How could we not be thankful to our God and live with a continual ‘attitude of gratitude’!  And while I was thinking about gratitude, I was reminded of Lazarus—one who had received one of Jesus’ greatest miracles—when he was raised from the dead!  The question is, have you “been raised” in Jesus?

“Therefore we are buried with him

by baptism into death:

that like as Christ was raised up

from the dead

by the glory of the Father,

even so we also

should walk in newness of life.”   Romans 6:4

Just as Lazarus was raised up from the dead, we too are raised from the dead spiritually—given new life by the power of HIS blood.

“And you hath he quickened,

who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked

according to the course of this world,

according to the prince

of the power of the air,

the spirit that now worketh

in the children

of disobedience:

3 Among whom also

we all had our conversation

in times past

in the lusts of our flesh,

fulfilling the desires of the flesh

and of the mind;

and were by nature

the children of wrath,

even as others.

4 But God,

who is rich in mercy,

for his great love

wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead

in sins,

hath quickened us together

with Christ,

(by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together,

and made us sit together

in heavenly places

in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come

he might shew the exceeding riches

of his grace

in his kindness toward us

through Christ Jesus.”  Ephesians 2:1-7

Like Lazarus, we can be raised by faith in Jesus, who will save us from our sin, by repentance and faith!  Amen!

“And she shall bring forth a son,

 and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people

from their sins.”  Matthew 1:21

Have you been “made”?  It’s a term often used in the ‘cop shows’ for being detected; but it also means being created into something new, and that is what God does for us—He makes us new IN Jesus!  And IN Jesus, we also receive something else in the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice of our Lord Jesus:

“For he hath made him to be sin

for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made

the righteousness of God

in him.”  2 Corinthians 5:21

What more could we ask from our God—He not only gave “His only begotten Son” to die for us—but to paraphrase Paul:

Jesus—who knew no sin—

 Took on sin—at Calvary for me—

That we who were born in sin—

Who choose to sin—

 Are accounted ‘righteous’—

IN HIM!!!

In contrast to those who think “salvation” is an opportunity to be ‘scot-free’ and do as we please, it is the gift of God which changes us from those who revel in darkness to those who walk in the light with our Lord Jesus!

“Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet

to be partakers

of the inheritance

of the saints

in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power

of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom

of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness

of sins:”  Colossians 1:12-14

I’m so grateful that HE has delivered me—translated me—and is ever working to make me/you into the image of Jesus!  We can truly know that “resurrection” power of Jesus, like Lazarus—all because Jesus came that we might have abundant LIFE IN HIM!!!

“For as the Father hath life in himself;

so hath he given to the Son

to have life in himself;”  John 5:26

“And this is the will of him that sent me,

that every one which seeth the Son,

and believeth on him,

may have everlasting life:

and I will raise him up

at the last day.”   John 6:40

“I am the door:

by me

if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in and out,

and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come

that they might have life,

and that they might have it

more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd giveth his life

for the sheep.”   John 10:9-11

Have you come to the shepherd of your soul?  If no, He’s calling you to Himself today!  If you have come to Him, what more could we have to be thankful for?  I pray that you will join me in this season of gratitude, to share this great gift!  Amen and Amen!!!

His Grace Reaches Me??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 11

27 Sunday Oct 2019

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, By His Grace, Cross, Gospel, Grace, Great is Thy Faithfulness

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 11        His Grace Reaches Me???

 

I love the old songs, and there is one that is a special message to my heart, and it resounds with truth—deep truth—written by Augustus Toplady in 1763.  How could such an old song still be pertinent?  Because the good news of the Gospel hasn’t changed!  Never has, never will!

Rock Of Ages  (Augustus Toplady 1763)

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Cleanse me from its guilt and power.

Not the labour of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Saviour, or I die!

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgement throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

I love the third verse and the simplicity of its message:

“Nothing in my hand I bring,

Simply to Thy cross I cling…”

Our hope is in the sufficiency of God’s grace that is full and powerful enough to save us from sin.

“Be it known unto you all,

and to all the people of Israel,

that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,

whom ye crucified,

whom God raised from the dead,

even by him doth this man stand here

before you whole.

11 This is the stone

which was set at nought of you builders,

which is become

the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other:

for there is none other name under heaven

given among men,

whereby we must be saved.”  Acts 4:10-12

This precious ‘corner stone’ is Jesus and He came that we might have life—real life in and through HIM!  Peter who was speaking in the account above, to answer the opposition there, also mentioned this ‘corner stone’ in his first Epistle to the scattered believers.

“Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture,

Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone,

elect,

precious:

and he that believeth on him

shall not be confounded.

7 Unto you therefore which believe

he is precious:

 but unto them which be disobedient,

the stone which the builders disallowed,

the same is made the head of the corner,

8 And a stone of stumbling,

and a rock of offence,

even to them which stumble

at the word,

being disobedient:

whereunto also they were appointed.”  1 Peter 2:6-8

I am so grateful that no matter where I am, or what is going on around me (or around those that I love), I have confidence in the truth that I can always “simply to Thy cross I cling”!  Jesus IS my all-in-all!

“For in him dwelleth all the fulness

of the Godhead bodily.

10 And ye are complete

in him,

which is the head of all principality

and power:”   Colossians 2:9-10

And another part of the letter that Paul wrote to the Colossians, reminds us how to look to HIM in all things, because HE is the One who sustains all things.  But before we look at the Colossians passage, we can see HIS power, grace and provision in Hebrews.

“God,

who at sundry times

and in divers manners

spake in time past

unto the fathers

by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days spoken

unto us

by his Son,

whom he hath appointed heir

of all things,

by whom also he made the worlds;

3 Who being the brightness

of his glory,

and the express image

of his person,

and upholding all things

by the word of his power,

when he had by himself

purged our sins,

sat down

on the right hand

of the Majesty on high;”   Hebrews 1:1-3

Jesus is God’s final Word; and the book of the Revelation is the “unveiling” of all that God will accomplish through “His only begotten Son”!  Jesus is the creator, the sustainer, the redeemer, the very One who IS/WAS the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for our sin—yours and mine!  Oh, how grateful I am for His unfailing grace—His all-sufficient grace—His supreme sovereign control—through which we can have victory in our daily lives.  Oh, how grateful I am that HIS grace reached down for me, saving and delivering me from my own sin, doing HIS continual work of that grace in me—conforming you and me  into the “image of His son” (Romans 8:28-29, in fact the whole chapter is an amazing word picture of all that we have in HIS amazing grace!). Now let’s take a look at Colossians 3 and see what this amazing grace looks like working through our hands, our feet, and our mouth—yes, you and I who have His Spirit within!

“Lie not one to another,

seeing that ye have put off the old man

with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man,

which is renewed in knowledge

after the image of him

that created him:

11 Where there is neither Greek

nor Jew,

circumcision

nor uncircumcision,

Barbarian,

Scythian,

bond

nor free:

but Christ is all,

and in all.

12 Put on therefore,

as the elect of God,

holy and beloved,

bowels of mercies,

kindness,

humbleness of mind,

meekness,

longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another,

and forgiving one another,

if any man have a quarrel

against any:

even as Christ forgave you,

so also do ye.

14 And above all these things

put on charity,

which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God

rule in your hearts,

to the which also ye are called

in one body;

and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ

dwell in you richly

in all wisdom;

teaching

and admonishing

one another

in psalms

and hymns

and spiritual songs,

singing with grace

in your hearts

to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do

in word

or deed,

do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God

and the Father by him.”   Colossians 3:9-17

And all this by our Lord’s grace and power which we received.

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord,

so walk ye in him:

7 Rooted and built up in him,

and stablished in the faith,

as ye have been taught,

abounding therein

with thanksgiving.”   Colossians 2:6-7

May we ever walk “in him”, remembering who we are, all because of whose we are; all because of His far-reaching, out-reaching grace that brings abundant life!  Amen and Amen!

“The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come that they might have life,

and that they might have it

more abundantly.”  John 10:10. Amen!

Jesus In Genesis Pt. 2!!! Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No.06

24 Sunday Mar 2019

Posted by in Creator, Cross, Great is Thy Faithfulness, JESUS, Jesus In Genesis!, Jesus Is The Only Way!

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No.06    Jesus In Genesis Pt.2!!!

 

“But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.” John 1:1-13

I’d like for us to continue our look at Jesus, The Son of God, by rehearsing this passage from John 1 which deals with the spiritual life that Jesus creates in those who come to Him in repentance and faith.

“All things

were made by him;

and without him

was not any thing made

that was made.

4 In him

was life;

and the life

was the light of men.

5 And the light

shineth in darkness;

and the darkness

comprehended it not.”  John 1:3-5

Here we find that Jesus IS creator, as well sustainer, of life; not only all things physical, but life and light—spiritual life and light—for all who will believe.  He brings life to the dead—the lost (See Ephesians 2:1-10).  It’s why HE came in the flesh to redeem and rescue God’s crowning glory of creation—man!  Albeit, man who sinned and marred the wondrous creation of God.  Jesus is “The Word”—God made flesh, to redeem flesh and blood humans who will come to Him, and receive His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice which He made at Calvary, with His own blood.  The greatest act of restoration and redemption ever wrought.  And it’s all seen in Genesis!  How did God create?  By His “Word”!

“And God said, Let there be light:

and there was light.” Genesis 1:3

Light—God created light, not the luminaries, but the very essence of time, space and energy that holds creation together.  And that IS Jesus.

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners

spake in time past

unto the fathers

by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days

spoken unto us

by his Son,

whom he hath appointed heir

of all things,

by whom also he made the worlds;

3 Who being the brightness

of his glory,

and the express image

of his person,

and upholding all things

by the word of his power,

when he had by himself

purged our sins,

sat down on the right hand

of the Majesty on high;”   Hebrews 1:1-3

It IS Jesus who holds all creation together, and HE is “upholding all things by the word of his power”; and also has “by himself purged our sins”—all of them!

But let’s get back to Genesis:

“And God said,

Let there be a firmament

in the midst of the waters,

and let it divide

the waters from the waters.”  Genesis 1:6

While Jesus is known to many as a ‘prophet/teacher’ of peace, He also tells us that He is a great divider.

“But I have a baptism

to be baptized with;

and how am I straitened

till it be accomplished!

51 Suppose ye that I am come

to give peace on earth?

I tell you, Nay;

but rather division:

52 For from henceforth

there shall be five in one house divided,

three against two,

and two against three.”    Matthew 12:50-52

The division mentioned here is a spiritual division, those who choose Jesus will pay a price.  What price are you paying?  Paul made this clear to Timothy!

“Yea, and all

that will live godly

in Christ Jesus

shall suffer persecution.

13 But evil men and seducers

shall wax worse and worse,

deceiving, and being deceived.

14 But continue thou

in the things which thou hast learned

and hast been assured of,

knowing of whom

thou hast learned them;”   2 Timothy 3:12

Jesus made it clear that following Him would not be popular—no more popular than HE was!

 “If ye were of the world,

the world would love his own:

but because ye are not of the world,

but I have chosen you

out of the world,

therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word

that I said unto you,

The servant is not greater

than his lord.

If they have persecuted me,

they will also persecute you;

if they have kept my saying,

they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things

will they do unto you

for my name’s sake,

because they know not

him that sent me.”  John 15:19-21

Jesus Himself IS the Creator!

“And God said,

Let the earth bring forth grass,

the herb yielding seed,

and the fruit tree

yielding fruit after his kind,

whose seed is in itself,

upon the earth:

and it was so.”  Genesis 1:11

God created that which would sustain the man He would create as His crowning glory!  Well, Jesus is the sustainer of all things—He is the spiritual food for all who will come to HIM!

“And Jesus said unto them,

I am the bread of life:

he that cometh to me

shall never hunger;

and he that believeth on me

shall never thirst…

50 This is the bread

which cometh down from heaven,

that a man may eat thereof,

and not die.

51 I am the living bread

which came down from heaven:

if any man eat of this bread,

he shall live for ever:

 and the bread that I will give

is my flesh,

which I will give for the life

of the world.”  John 6:35 & 50-51

Jesus came to be the sacrifice for our sin and sustain us for all eternity with eternal life!  Praise God for such love and care—the sustainer of and giver of life, both now and for eternity!

Now, more from Genesis!

“And God said,

Let there be lights

in the firmament of the heaven

to divide the day from the night;

and let them be for signs,

and for seasons,

and for days,

and years:

15 And let them be for lights

in the firmament of the heaven

to give light upon the earth:

 and it was so.”  Genesis 1:14-15

I love that “God said”…”and it was so”, for Jesus is the “Word” that God spoke on our behalf—all to bring men to the light; the very ‘light of the world’.

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying,

I am the light of the world:

he that followeth me

shall not walk in darkness,

but shall have the light of life.”  John 8:12

 

“But if our gospel be hid,

it is hid

to them that are lost:

4 In whom the god of this world

hath blinded the minds of them

which believe not,

lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ,

who is the image of God,

should shine unto them.”    2 Corinthians 4:3-4

Jesus delivers us out of darkness, into HIS light by the power of God!

“Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet

to be partakers of the inheritance

of the saints

in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:”    Colossians 1:12-14

Pressing on—back to Genesis chapter 1.

“And God said,

Let the waters bring forth abundantly

the moving creature that hath life,

and fowl that may fly above the earth

in the open firmament of heaven.

21 And God created

great whales,

and every living creature

that moveth,

which the waters brought forth

abundantly,

after their kind,

and every winged fowl

 after his kind:

and God saw that it was good.”  Genesis 1:20-21

God is creator of all things, and all that God created was good—yet when man sinned, all creation fell, and while all creation will be redeemed when The Lord returns, it is still groaning with us until that time.

“Because the creature itself

also shall be delivered

from the bondage of corruption

 into the glorious liberty

of the children of God.

22 For we know that the whole creation

groaneth

and travaileth

in pain together

until now.”  Romans 8:21-22

Jesus blood will redeem all of God’s creation, and He will deliver creation from the curse when HE comes!  All because of the sacrifice of His blood for us!

“Forasmuch as ye know

that ye were not redeemed

with corruptible things,

as silver

and gold,

from your vain conversation

received by tradition

from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ,

as of a lamb without blemish

and without spot:”   1 Peter 1:18-19

Continuing with God’s creation, we find not only the cattle and earth created, but also creation’s crowning glory—man!

“And God said,

Let the earth bring forth the living creature

after his kind, cattle,

and creeping thing,

and beast of the earth

after his kind:

and it was so.

25 And God made the beast of the earth

after his kind,

and cattle

after their kind,

and every thing that creepeth upon the earth

after his kind:

and God saw that it was good.

26 And God said,

Let us make man

in our image,

after our likeness:

and let them have dominion

over the fish of the sea,

and over the fowl of the air,

and over the cattle,

and over all the earth,

and over every creeping thing

that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So God created man

in his own image,

in the image of God

created he him;

male and female

created he them.” Genesis 1:24-27

God created us in His own image, and even though we sinned and ruined His creation, He had already made the plan for our salvation—JESUS! And as the picture, which Paul so beautifully paints for us, makes it clear, Jesus brings spiritual life to all who will come to Him in repentance and faith—those who will receive eternal life, and gain victory over sin, death and hell!

“It is sown a natural body;

it is raised a spiritual body.

There is a natural body,

and there is a spiritual body.

45 And so it is written,

The first man Adam

was made a living soul;

the last Adam

was made a quickening spirit.

46 Howbeit that was not first

which is spiritual,

but that

which is natural;

and afterward

that which is spiritual.”  1 Corinthians 15:44-46

This is the same Jesus whom we see from Genesis to Revelation!  The Savior–The sacrifice—The victor—The Soon coming King!

“So when this corruptible

shall have put on incorruption,

and this mortal

shall have put on immortality,

then shall be brought to pass the saying

that is written,

Death is swallowed up in victory.

55 O death,

where is thy sting?

O grave,

where is thy victory?

56 The sting of death

is sin;

and the strength of sin

is the law.

57 But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.”   1 Corinthians 15:54-57

Praise The God from whom all blessings flow!  Father, Son and Holy Spirit—thank you that In Jesus–we win!!!  The God of creation!

Amen and Amen!

 

 

 

 

 

Failure Isn’t Fatal!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #508

14 Wednesday Nov 2018

Posted by in A Father's Love, Beauty For Ashes, Failure Isn't Fatal, Follow Jesus, Forgiveness, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Holy Spirit, HOPE, JESUS

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #508  Failure Isn’t Fatal!!!

 

“If we confess

our sins,

he is faithful

and just

to forgive us

our sins,

and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

As believers in and followers of Jesus, we sometimes think that we have failed our Lord and ruined our ministry, but God says different. Then there are also those times that we are striving diligently to yield to the Spirit’s leading and everything seems to fall apart; but our God clearly tells us that He is ever at work in our lives. While we ought to continually search our hearts for secret sin as well as known sin. And not only does God call us to “confess” our sins (And yes that is plural, for we all fail regularly, and ‘confess’ simply means to agree with God that the sin in our lives, IS sin!), He assures us that when we face our sin and bring it to HIM, that HE will not only forgive us, but He will also “cleanse us from all unrighteousness”! God also knows that we often struggle to know our own hearts—and when we bring that to Him, HE will hear our prayer and reveal any short-coming or sin that we are truly desiring to set aright!

“Search me,

O God,

and know

my heart:

try me,

and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be

any wicked way

in me,

and lead me

in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23

While the Psalmist knew that God would hear and reveal his own heart in a way that he could keep “short accounts” with his God, for the believers since the cross and the New Covenant of grace and the indwelling Holy Spirit we have that privilege continually as The Spirit is our ever-present intercessor!

“Likewise the Spirit

also helpeth our infirmities:

for we know not

what we should pray for

as we ought:

but the Spirit itself

maketh intercession

for us

with groanings

which cannot be uttered.”    Romans 8:26

Yet we have even more assurance of our recovery from failure—our Lord, even as the author of Hebrews reminds us of HIM!

“Wherefore he is able also

to save them to the uttermost

that come unto God by him,

seeing he ever liveth

to make intercession

for them.” Hebrews 7:25

Our Great High Priest, Jesus, is ever interceding for us and assures us of His faithful provision, grace and cleansing forgiveness!

“Being confident of this very thing,

that he which hath begun a good work

in you

will perform it

until the day of Jesus Christ:”   Philippians 1:6

Our faithful God is working continually so that we will be “conformed to the image of His Son”! (See Romans 8:28-29) And time and space would fail us to mention those precious saints of old who failed and were restored to their Lord’s service—and so can we be, when we but recognize our sin, turn back to seek HIS face and receive His forgiveness and cleansing. David says it better than I can!

“Have mercy upon me, O God,

according to thy lovingkindness:

according unto the multitude

of thy tender mercies

blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me throughly

from mine iniquity,

and cleanse me from

my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions:

and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against thee, thee only,

have I sinned,

and done this evil in thy sight:

that thou mightest be justified

when thou speakest,

and be clear when thou judgest…..

7 Purge me with hyssop,

and I shall be clean:

wash me,

and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness;

that the bones which thou hast broken

may rejoice.

9 Hide thy face from my sins,

and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God;

and renew a right spirit

within me.

11 Cast me not away

from thy presence;

and take not thy holy spirit

from me.

12 Restore unto me

the joy of thy salvation;

and uphold me

with thy free spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways;

and sinners shall be converted unto thee.”   Portions of Psalm 51

God is in the restoration business—He takes ‘cracked pots’ like me and will restore us to become “vessels of honor”, and will so graciously and lovingly give unto us “beauty for ashes”!

So my dear friend, wherever you are—wherever you have been—if you will but seek His face and His heart, HE will meet you and take your ‘failure’ and “ashes” and give you “beauty” in exchange! Don’t despair or give up—but look UP to the One who loves you and has never said “oops”, He can restore you! He is waiting—run to HIM!

“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion,

to give unto them beauty

for ashes,

the oil of joy

for mourning,

the garment of praise

for the spirit of heaviness;

that they might be called trees of righteousness,   

the planting of the LORD,

that he might be glorified.”   Isaiah 61:3

Did You Say Thank YOU??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #504

31 Wednesday Oct 2018

Posted by in Encouragement, Faith, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Great is Thy Faithfulness

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #504 Did You Say Thank YOU???

 

I have had some situations of late that have allowed me to praise and thank GOD for His abundant care and mercy!!! I try to maintain an “attitude of gratitude” but sometimes we just get distracted and forget to say “Thank YOU Lord!” Whether it’s answered prayer, a special blessing you weren’t expecting, a close call for harm, or any other circumstance—we can always thank our precious Lord Jesus and our Heavenly Father God, for “Thank YOU” is always a reminder to humble ourselves with gratitude (and there’s not much as intolerable as an attitude of “ingratitude”)!

One of my favorite passages is found in Lamentations, first because I love the writings of Jeremiah; not because they’re always easy to read, but because he was a man with a single, God-given, “unpopular”, and often rejected message—but he faithfully delivered it with a broken heart for the judgment that was surely coming on his people and his beloved city of Jerusalem. Yet after the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians, he gave us one of the greatest writings on grief and sorrow in all of scripture, with one of the greatest reminders in scripture, of the source of our hope! All written from the broken heart of an obedient servant (Always a reminder that when we are called to preach/teach the hard things of God, we are to be humble and broken rather than puffy, self-righteous or arrogant.)

I would simply like to share Jeremiah’s wondrous words with you this morning. Perhaps you need a reminder to ‘say thank you’, or maybe you’ve been questioning why you should be thankful, or perhaps you’re just weeping from a broken heart or loss. I pray that this portion of God’s Word will encourage you, and bless you today!

“Remembering mine affliction

and my misery,

the wormwood and the gall.

20 My soul hath them still in remembrance,

and is humbled in me.

21 This I recall to my mind,

therefore have I hope.

22 It is of the LORD’S mercies

that we are not consumed,

because his compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning:

great is thy faithfulness.

24 The LORD is my portion,

saith my soul;

therefore will I hope in him.

25 The LORD is good unto them

that wait for him,

to the soul

that seeketh him.

26 It is good

that a man should both hope

and quietly wait

for the salvation of the LORD.”    Lamentations 3:19-26

As the great old hymn says, “Great IS THY Faithfulness” (written by Thomas Chisholm)! Thank YOU Lord for Your faithfulness, for because YOU are faithful we can say:

“Let your conversation be without covetousness;

and be content

with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper, and

I will not fear

what man shall do unto me.” Heb. 13:5-6

Amen and Amen!!!